Ironman Gear Progression OSRS: From Bronze to BiS

Gear progression is different for ironmen. No Grand Exchange means every upgrade requires a specific grind. Some items you’ll camp for hundreds of hours. Others you’ll skip entirely.

This guide maps out the complete ironman gear journey - what to get, when to get it, and what you can safely skip.

How to Use This Guide

This isn’t a checklist you follow linearly. Gear progression overlaps with Slayer training, questing, and bossing. Use this as a reference:

• Early game = Base 50s through quest cape territory
• Mid-game = Slayer to 87-91, first major PvM grinds
• Late game = Raids, GWD, BIS chasing

Skip to the section that matches your account stage.

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Early Game Gear (Base 50s → Quest Cape)

Melee Progression

Slot	Item	Source	Why It Matters
Weapon	Dragon scimitar	Monkey Madness I (60 Attack)	BIS training weapon until whip
Body	Fighter torso	Barbarian Assault	Free +4 strength, storable in POH
Legs	Dragon platelegs	Quest rewards or shops	Basic defensive gear
Helmet	Helm of neitiznot	The Fremennik Isles (55 Def)	Best early helmet, +3 strength
Cape	Obsidian cape	TzHaar shops	+1 strength until fire cape
Boots	Climbing boots	Tenzing (12 gp)	+2 strength, dirt cheap
Gloves	Combat bracelet	Crafting	Bridge until Barrows gloves
Shield	Dragon defender	Warriors’ Guild	BIS off-hand for melee
Amulet	Amulet of glory	Crafting (dragonstone)	First major amulet upgrade
Ring	Berserker ring	Dagannoth Rex	+8 strength when imbued

Key Milestones:

• Fighter Torso - Get this early. Same strength bonus as Bandos chestplate, free from Barbarian Assault
• Dragon defender - Grind Warriors’ Guild tokens, BIS shield slot
• Barrows gloves - Recipe for Disaster subquests, BIS gloves for most of the game

Ranged Progression

Slot	Item	Source	Why It Matters
Weapon	Rune crossbow	Smithing/shops	First real ranged weapon
Ammunition	Broad bolts	Slayer unlock (55 Slayer)	Cheap, effective bolts
Body	Black d’hide body	Crafting (84) or dragons	Solid ranged bonus
Legs	Black d’hide chaps	Crafting (79) or dragons	Matches body
Helmet	Archer helm	Fremennik Trials	Basic ranged helmet
Cape	Ava’s accumulator	Animal Magnetism	Auto-picks up ammunition
Boots	Snakeskin boots	Crafting (45)	Early ranged boots
Gloves	Barrows gloves	Recipe for Disaster	BIS until very late
Shield	Book of law	Horror from the Deep	Ranged attack bonus
Amulet	Amulet of glory	Crafting	First upgrade
Ring	Archer ring	Dagannoth Prime	+8 ranged attack when imbued

Key Milestones:

• Rune crossbow + broad bolts - Unlock broad bolts from Slayer, cheap and effective
• Ava’s accumulator - Mandatory for saving ammunition
• Black d’hide - Craft your own or farm dragons, solid until mid-game

Magic Progression

Slot	Item	Source	Why It Matters
Weapon	Iban’s staff (u)	Underground Pass	25 max hit, cheap deaths
Body	Mystic robe top	Shops (66 Magic) or drops	First magic DPS gear
Legs	Mystic robe bottom	Shops (66 Magic) or drops	Matches top
Helmet	Mystic hat	Shops or drops	Basic magic accuracy
Cape	God cape	Mage Arena I	+10 magic attack
Boots	Mystic boots	Shops or drops	Basic magic accuracy
Gloves	Barrows gloves	Recipe for Disaster	BIS until tormented bracelet
Shield	Book of darkness	Horror from the Deep	Magic attack bonus
Amulet	Amulet of glory	Crafting	First upgrade
Ring	Seers ring	Dagannoth Prime	+8 magic attack when imbued

Key Milestones:

• Iban’s staff - Your first proper magic weapon, charge it at the Underground Pass
• God cape - Mage Arena I is quick, +10 magic attack
• Mystic robes - Buy from shops or get as drops, solid until Ahrim’s

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Mid-Game Gear (87-91 Slayer → First Raids)

This is where ironman gear progression diverges heavily based on your path. Some players rush corrupted gauntlet for bowfa. Others Slayer to 91 first. Both are valid.

Melee Progression

Slot	Item	Source	Notes
Weapon	Abyssal whip	85 Slayer (Abyssal demons)	BIS training weapon
Body	Fighter torso → Oathplate chest	Yama (78 Def)	Bandos alternative - same strength
Legs	Dragon platelegs → Oathplate legs	Yama (78 Def)	Bandos alternative - same strength
Helmet	Neitiznot faceguard	The Fremennik Exiles (70 Def)	+6 strength, double the neitiznot
Cape	Fire cape	Fight Caves	+4 strength, huge defensive boost
Boots	Dragon boots → Primordial boots	91 Slayer (Cerberus)	BIS melee boots
Gloves	Barrows gloves → Ferocious gloves	Dragon Slayer II	+2 strength upgrade
Shield	Dragon defender	Warriors’ Guild	Hold until Avernic
Amulet	Amulet of torture (zenyte)	Demonic Gorillas + 93 Magic	+10 strength, huge DPS boost
Ring	Berserker ring (i)	Imbue at Nightmare Zone	+8 strength

Alternative: Blood Moon Armour

• Chest/legs: Same strength as Bandos/Oathplate
• Source: Moons of Peril (75 Strength, 50 Def)
• Set effect: 33% chance to attack 1 tick faster
• Best for: NMZ, Slayer (low-defence tasks, magic-heavy monsters)
• Worth getting: Yes, especially for Slayer variety

The Zenyte Grind

Zenytes are non-negotiable for mid-game ironmen. You need all 4:

Item	Enchant Requirement	Benefit
Amulet of torture	93 Magic	+10 strength, +15 attack bonuses
Necklace of anguish	93 Magic	+15 ranged attack, +5 ranged strength
Tormented bracelet	93 Magic	+10 magic attack, +5% magic damage
Ring of suffering	93 Magic	Absorbs recoil damage, defensive stats

Source: Demonic Gorillas (1/300 per shard) When to grind: After completing Monkey Madness II, during mid-game Slayer

Don’t skip zenytes. They’re BIS jewelry for their respective styles until extremely late game.

Ranged Progression

Slot	Item	Source	Notes
Weapon	Bow of faerdhinen (c)	Corrupted Gauntlet	Single biggest upgrade in game
Ammunition	Crystal shards	Corrupted Gauntlet	Charges bowfa
Body	Crystal body	Prif + 6 shards	Pairs with bowfa
Legs	Crystal legs	Prif + 6 shards	Pairs with bowfa
Helmet	Crystal helm	Prif + 6 shards	Pairs with bowfa
Cape	Ava’s assembler	Dragon Slayer II	Upgrade from accumulator
Boots	Pegasian boots	91 Slayer (Cerberus)	BIS ranged boots
Gloves	Barrows gloves	Recipe for Disaster	Hold until zaryte vambraces
Shield	Book of law	Horror from the Deep	Hold until twisted buckler
Amulet	Necklace of anguish (zenyte)	Demonic Gorillas + 93 Magic	+15 ranged attack, +5 strength
Ring	Archer ring (i)	Imbue at NMZ	+8 ranged attack

Pre-Bowfa Alternative: Eclipse Moon Armour If you don’t have corrupted bowfa yet, use Eclipse Moon armour as your main ranged gear:

• Source: Moons of Peril (75 Ranged, 50 Def)
• Set effect: 20% chance to inflict burn (10 damage over 24 seconds)
• Use for: General ranged training, undead mobs (with Salve amulet), low-defence monsters
• Replace with: Crystal armour once you get bowfa - crystal is vastly superior
• Worth getting: Yes, as a solid pre-bowfa option

Pre-Bowfa Alternative: Karil’s Armour

• Source: Barrows (70 Ranged, 70 Def)
• Similar stats to Eclipse Moon
• Choose between: Eclipse Moon OR Karil’s - both serve the same purpose pre-bowfa

Magic Progression

Slot	Item	Source	Notes
Weapon	Trident of the seas	87 Slayer (Kraken)	Mandatory for magic PvM
Body	Ahrim’s robetop	Barrows (70 Magic, 70 Def)	Best magic DPS until late game
Legs	Ahrim’s robeskirt	Barrows	Matches top
Helmet	Ahrim’s hood	Barrows	Matches set
Cape	Imbued god cape	Mage Arena II	+15 magic attack, +2% damage
Boots	Eternal boots	91 Slayer (Cerberus)	BIS magic boots
Gloves	Tormented bracelet (zenyte)	Demonic Gorillas + 93 Magic	+10 magic, +5% magic damage
Shield	Mage’s book	Mage Training Arena	Hold until arcane
Amulet	Occult necklace	93 Slayer (Smoke Devils)	+10 magic, +10% magic damage
Ring	Seers ring (i)	Imbue at NMZ	+8 magic attack

Alternative: Blue Moon Armour

• Source: Moons of Peril (75 Magic, 50 Def)
• Set effect: 20-50% chance for instant melee after freeze spells
• Best for: Hybrid PvP setups, very niche PvM
• Skip for: PvE ironmen - Ahrim’s is better
• Worth getting: No, unless you PvP

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Varlamore’s Impact on Gear Progression

Varlamore (released March 2024) added several items that change ironman progression:

Oathplate Armour - The Bandos Alternative

Requirements: 78 Defence to wear Source: Yama boss (requires “A Kingdom Divided” quest) Alternative crafting: 78 Mining + 83 Smithing (2,520 crushed infernal shale + 450 oathplate shards)

Stats:

• Chest: +4 Strength (same as Bandos)
• Legs: +2 Strength (same as Bandos)
• Superior slash attack (+38 slash attack bonus)
• Higher defences than Bandos

Why it matters: You can skip Bandos entirely. Oathplate has identical strength bonuses and is significantly easier to obtain than camping General Graardor. The progression becomes:

Fighter Torso → Oathplate (78 Def) → Torva (80 Def)

When to get it: After completing “A Kingdom Divided”, before attempting God Wars Dungeon. Yama is easier to kill than GWD bosses and drops are guaranteed (not shared).

Mixed Hide Armour

Requirements: 60 Ranged, 50 Defence Source: Hunter’s Guild (72 Hunter + 72 Crafting OR pay Pellem 20k per piece)

Stats:

• Top: +2 Strength, +27 Ranged attack, +4 Stab attack
• Designed for hunter’s spear specifically

Is it a Fighter Torso replacement? No. It has half the strength bonus (+2 vs +4). Only use mixed hide if you’re using hunter’s spear or need the stab attack bonus for specific content.

Moons of Peril Armour Sets

Requirements: 75+ combat, Perilous Moons quest Drop rate: 1/56 per piece from respective boss, 1/14 for any unique if you kill all 3

Blood Moon (Melee):

• Same strength as Bandos/Oathplate
• High magic defence (+79 total)
• Set effect: 33% chance to attack 1 tick faster
• Worth getting: Yes - great for Slayer (magic-heavy tasks, low-defence monsters, NMZ)

Eclipse Moon (Ranged):

• Similar stats to Karil’s/black d’hide
• Set effect: 20% burn damage
• Cannot use with Slayer helm (i)
• Worth getting: Only as pre-bowfa stopgap or for undead training

Blue Moon (Magic):

• Matches Ahrim’s stats
• Set effect: Instant melee after freeze spells
• Worth getting: No for PvE ironmen - this is a PvP set

Is Moons of Peril worth doing?

• ✅ Better drop rates than Barrows (1/14 vs 1/17)
• ✅ Self-contained (supplies provided)
• ✅ Good GP (263k average chest, 2.1M/hour)
• ✅ Blessed bone shards for prayer training
• ⚠️ Armour degrades (45 hours combat, expensive repairs)

Royal Titans - Prayer Upgrades & Twin Flame Staff

Requirements: 80+ combat stats, completion of Moons of Peril quest When to do: After Moons of Peril armour, before/during Corrupted Gauntlet

Royal Titans is a trio boss fight in Varlamore that drops crucial mid-game prayer upgrades and a powerful elemental staff.

Essential Drops:

Item	Effect	Why It Matters
Dead Eye (prayer scroll)	+20% ranged accuracy, +8% ranged strength	Massive ranged DPS boost, BiS until Rigour
Mystic Vigor (prayer scroll)	+20% magic accuracy, +15% magic defence	Huge magic DPS boost, BiS until Augury
Twin Flame Staff	Elemental magic weapon	Best staff when using elemental spells (Fire/Water/Air/Earth)

Priority Order:

1. Dead Eye - Boosts bowfa DPS significantly, essential for CG and GWD
2. Mystic Vigor - Improves magic accuracy for Barrows, Slayer bursting
3. Twin Flame Staff - Situational but powerful for elemental weaknesses

Alternative to Twin Flame Staff:

• Warped Sceptre (dropped by Warped Creatures after “The Path of Glouphrie”)
• Powered staff (doesn’t need runes)
• Good for general magic DPS when not using elemental spells
• Either staff works - Twin Flame for elemental weaknesses, Warped Sceptre for general use

Why Royal Titans Matters:

• Dead Eye is a 20%+ DPS increase for ranged before you get Rigour (74 Prayer, rare CoX scroll)
• Mystic Vigor is a 15%+ DPS increase for magic before you get Augury (77 Prayer, rare CoX scroll)
• Both prayers are much easier to obtain than Rigour/Augury scrolls
• Essential for efficient mid-game bossing

When to Skip:

• Never skip Dead Eye if you’re doing ranged content
• Can delay Mystic Vigor if you’re focusing on melee/ranged only
• Twin Flame Staff is optional if you have Warped Sceptre

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Late Game Gear (First Raids → BiS)

Melee

Slot	BIS Item	Source
Weapon	Osmumten’s fang / Scythe of vitur	Tombs of Amascut / Theatre of Blood
Body	Torva platebody	Nex
Legs	Torva platelegs	Nex
Helmet	Torva full helm	Nex
Cape	Infernal cape	The Inferno
Boots	Primordial boots	91 Slayer (Cerberus)
Gloves	Ferocious gloves	Dragon Slayer II
Shield	Avernic defender	Theatre of Blood
Amulet	Amulet of torture	Zenytes
Ring	Ultor ring	Desert Treasure II bosses

Ranged

Slot	BIS Item	Source
Weapon	Twisted bow / Zaryte bow	Chambers of Xeric / Nex
Body	Masori body (f)	Tombs of Amascut
Legs	Masori chaps (f)	Tombs of Amascut
Helmet	Masori mask (f)	Tombs of Amascut
Cape	Assembler max cape	Max cape + Ava’s assembler
Boots	Pegasian boots	91 Slayer (Cerberus)
Gloves	Zaryte vambraces	Nex
Shield	Twisted buckler	Chambers of Xeric
Amulet	Necklace of anguish	Zenytes
Ring	Venator ring	Desert Treasure II bosses

Magic

Slot	BIS Item	Source
Weapon	Tumeken’s shadow	Tombs of Amascut
Body	Ancestral robe top	Chambers of Xeric
Legs	Ancestral robe bottom	Chambers of Xeric
Helmet	Ancestral hat	Chambers of Xeric
Cape	Imbued god cape	Mage Arena II
Boots	Eternal boots	91 Slayer (Cerberus)
Gloves	Tormented bracelet	Zenytes
Shield	Elidinis’ ward (f)	Tombs of Amascut
Amulet	Occult necklace	93 Slayer
Ring	Magus ring	Desert Treasure II bosses

Late game is about raid drops and mega rares. Most ironmen will spend thousands of hours in this phase.

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What’s Skippable vs Essential

✅ Essential - Don’t Skip These

Early Game:

• Fighter Torso (free +4 strength)
• Fire cape (+4 strength, massive defence)
• Barrows gloves (BIS gloves until very late)
• Dragon defender (BIS off-hand)
• Helm of neitiznot → Faceguard (easy strength bonus)

Mid Game:

• Zenyte jewelry (all 4 pieces - torture, anguish, bracelet, suffering)
• Slayer helm (i) (16.67% DPS boost on-task)
• Trident of the seas (87 Slayer - mandatory for magic PvM)
• Whip (85 Slayer - BIS training weapon)
• Primordial boots (91 Slayer - BIS melee boots)
• Corrupted bowfa (single biggest upgrade, though RNG-dependent)

❌ Skippable - Strong Alternatives Exist

Bandos armour - Oathplate from Yama has identical strength, easier to get Full Barrows completion - Only farm if you need specific pieces (Ahrim’s for magic) Karil’s armour - Eclipse Moon is similar, or skip to bowfa + crystal Blue Moon armour - PvP-focused, not useful for PvE ironmen Eclipse Moon armour - Only useful pre-bowfa or for undead training Mixed hide armour - Not a Fighter Torso replacement, niche use only

⚠️ Situational - Depends on Your Path

Blood Moon armour - Worth getting if you do a lot of Slayer, especially magic-heavy tasks Elite void - Essential for Theatre of Blood and Colosseum, skippable otherwise Barrows for Ahrim’s - Worth it for magic DPS, but Blue Moon exists as alternative

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Common Gear Mistakes

1. Grinding Bandos Instead of Oathplate Oathplate has the same strength bonuses and is easier to obtain. Skip Bandos until you need it for completion.

2. Skipping Fighter Torso “I’ll just wait for Bandos” - no. Fighter Torso is free, storable, and has the same +4 strength. Get it early.

3. Not Prioritising Zenytes All 4 zenyte jewelry pieces are essential. Start grinding demonic gorillas as soon as you complete Monkey Madness II.

4. Doing Barrows Too Early Don’t camp Barrows before you have trident. It’s painfully slow with Iban’s staff. Get 87 Slayer first.

5. Ignoring Varlamore Content Moons of Peril has better rates than Barrows and provides useful mid-game gear. Don’t sleep on Blood Moon armour for Slayer.

6. Camping CG Too Long If you’re 500+ KC dry on enhanced seed, take a break. Do some Slayer. Come back later. Burnout isn’t worth it.

7. Skipping Primordial Boots “I can just use dragon boots” - no. Prims are +5 strength over dragon boots. Get to 91 Slayer.

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Gear Progression at a Glance

Melee Body Slot Journey

Quest gear → Fighter Torso → Blood Moon chest (optional) → Oathplate chest → Torva

Ranged Weapon Journey

Training bow → Rune crossbow → Corrupted bowfa → Twisted bow / Zaryte bow

Magic Weapon Journey

Iban’s staff → Trident of the seas / Twin Flame Staff → Sanguinesti staff → Tumeken’s shadow

Note: Twin Flame Staff (Royal Titans) for elemental weaknesses, Trident for general magic DPS

Jewelry Journey

Glory → Fury → Zenytes (torture/anguish/bracelet) → Hold until DT2 rings

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Related Guides

• Gear Acquisition - How to farm each piece of gear (complements this guide)
• Melee Guide - Attack, Strength, and Defence training 1-99
• Late-Game Goals - Raid priorities and boss progression framework
• Mid-Game Ironman Goals - When to focus on gear vs other goals
• Early Game Roadmap - Getting your first set of gear
• Ironman Slayer Guide - Farming gear through Slayer
• Ironman Prayer Training - Getting to 70 for Piety
• Varlamore Guide - Oathplate, moon armour, and blessed shards
• Early Ironman Money Making - Funding gear upgrades